NEW DELHI, July 13 (Agencies): More than 50 percent of around 220 active militants in Kashmir are Pakistan nationals, a home ministry official said on Thursday.

He also said that infiltration bids have seen a rise in the last five months. Around 220 militants are active in the Kashmir Valley and majority of them are Pakistanis, the official said.

At least 120 attempts of infiltration have been made till May, with 30 militants having been successful in the attempt, he said.

In 2016, there were 370 attempts of infiltration in Jammu and Kashmir, the official said, adding, as many as 119 militants had sneaked into the country that year.

According to data compiled by the home ministry, 88 Kashmiri youths had joined militancy in 2016, the highest in last six years.

In 2014, 222 militants tried to enter the country, but only 65 could make it, and in 2015, 121 ultras attempted to cross the border, but 33 of them were successful. Besides, there has been a steady increase in the number of youths taking up arms in the valley from 2014 onwards as compared to ones between 2010 and 2013, the data said.

In 2010, as many as 54 youths joined militancy, in 2011, however, the number came down to 23. It further dipped to 21 in 2012 and 16 in 2013, it added.

SRINAGAR, July 13: Chief minister Mehbooba Mufti today led the people of the state in remembering the Martyrs of 1931.
Early in the morning, the chief minister reached Mazar-e-Shohada at Hazrat Naqshband Sahib (RA) at Khawaja Bazar and paid floral wreaths on the mausoleum of the martyrs of 1931 who laid down their lives against autocracy and suppression.
Several ministers, legislators, Chief Secretary, B B Vyas; Director General of Police, Dr. S. P. Vaid; senior officers; representatives of